What’s it like to live in France? An American abroad shared her top 5 French culture quirks

Here’s a little insight into what it’s like to live in France.

Wouldn’t we all like to visit France? The upcoming Paris Olympics is putting a bright spotlight on the culture, the food, the history – it all feels so romantic.

Influencer Jenna Jean Davis loves the country so much, she moved there from the U.S. to fulfill a lifelong dream. She had a few pages to add to our Paris Playbook, as she highlighted five culture shocks that will help us all understand the French lifestyle through a personal lens.

5 French Culture Shocks

1. They Smile Less: Jenna quickly noticed that the French don’t flash their pearly whites as often as Americans do. Her French teacher even scolded her for smiling while speaking, claiming it distorted the accent! The French, it seems, speak with their mouths forward, lips pursed, and smiles tucked away. Jenna’s had lots of people comment on her ever-present grin.
2. They Walk Slow: In France, people saunter rather than stride. Jenna finds herself stuck behind slow walkers, so she’s embraced their pace instead of strutting past them. This slower pace has allowed her to soak in her surroundings. However, it has also made her fashionably late often – a very French thing, she winks. Plus, they walk everywhere! Jenna’s step count has skyrocketed to an average of 10,000 steps a day.
3. Work-Life Balance: Jenna admires the French’s value for work-life balance. She’s found it refreshing to see people who work to live, not live to work. They clock out at a decent hour to have dinner with their families and prioritize vacation and rest time. They get at least a month or more of vacation time a year – a far cry from the two weeks typical in America.
4. French Men are Gentleman: Jenna is charmed by the chivalry of French men. They lift her bags for her on the plane, let her walk first through the door, wait for her, let her cut in line, and serve her first. She playfully suggested that America could use a bit more of this!
5. There’s No Target: Jenna finds herself yearning for the convenience of Target. In France, shopping is a bit of a treasure hunt. You can’t just go to one store and find everything you need. Instead, you visit multiple different little stores. It takes a bit more time, but it’s all part of the French charm.

Follow Jenna on Instagram, @jennajean8.